Sports Mania Asia lists five underrated NBA players between the late 1990s and early 2000s. With his accurate 3-point shot and ability to pass the ball effectively, Stojakovidc would be a nightmare for defenses in todays game. While you probably wouldnt be able to get away with that nickname in the NBA today, it still earns him an easy placement on this list. He averaged 21.2 points a game that season and would never be the same. COMPLEX participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means COMPLEX gets paid commissions on purchases made through our links to retailer sites. Anyways. One-Sheet Collections: Best Active NBA Stars Who Have Never Been All Elton is perfect for this list. For some reason, as time has gone on, fans refer to Zydrunas Ilgauskas as one of those garbage players that LeBron James dragged to the NBA Finals early in his career. He spent 3 seasons with the team and helped them transition to the City of New Orleans. 7 min read. By 2003, Ilgauskas was an All-Star and averaged 17.2 PPG and 7.5 RPG while adding 1.9 BPG. Roy was destined to be a star from his first season in the NBA. Just 3 seasons later, he would become a 20.0 PPG scorer and an automatic 40.0% shooter from deep. The Most Underrated NBA Players Of The Early 2000s LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers. We present our all-time underrated teams, those great teams which don't receive their proper respect in the historical archive. Of course, we couldnt account for everyone who deserves to be on this list, but below are the most underrated NBA players of the early 2000s. His three years stretch from 2001-04 saw him average 22-6-2, make the All-Star team every year, and even get him a spot on the 2nd Team All-NBA squad. Nine seasons into his career, the former USC Trojan has finally found his stride and established himself as one of the NBAs top guards. Of course, there was Tim Duncan and the Spurs who captured 3 championships of their own in the 2000s after winning one in 1999 the year after MJ left the NBA. Absentee champion: Cameron Smith's jump to LIV Golf leaves a void at Another is that many of these players are often misremembered for their time and play late in their careers when theyre past their prime, bouncing around to teams and being fitted for jerseys that will probably struggle to sell ten total copies. Michael Redd is another interesting 2000s player. The top 25 NBA duos of all time | Yardbarker A 2000 trade to the Pacers changed everything and almost immediately transformed ONeal into an MVP candidate. And make it not as a lifetime achievement award or an injury replacement, but during what would be a 2nd Team All-NBA season? Over time, Kidd improved as a shooter and scorer, so by the year 2000, he was arguably the most well-rounded point guard in the NBA. In the 2000 NBA draft, the Milwaukee Bucks got lucky when Ohio States Michael Redd fell all the way into the second round. He didnt have the chance to display his scoring prowess during his first season in Milwaukee since he was playing behind the great Ray Allen. Career Stats: 13.2 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 1.4 APG, 0.4 SPG, 1.7 BPG, Career Achievements: 1x Most Improved Player, 6x All-Star, 3x All-NBA Team Selection. Ilgauskas deserves so much more respect than modern-day fans give him. Trevor Ariza. His only season above 50% from the floor was with the 2009-10 Miami Heat, which isnt anything to write home about for a 611 power forward. He had a sweet jumper and smooth release that he could knock down from anywhere in front of half-court. He averaged 20.1 PPG and 10.0 RPG in his rookie season with the Chicago Bulls, making the All-Rookie Team. Davis was an explosive point guard who was a blur on the floor in open space. Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports, Career Stats: 18.8 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 4.7 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.2 BPG, Career Achievements: 1x Rookie of the Year, 3x All-Star, 2x All-NBA Team Selection. Top 5 most underrated NBA players in history And when it comes to the 2000s, well, there are plenty of guys who deserved more love. In 2002, O'Neal won the NBA's Most Improved Player award by averaging 17.2 PPG, 7.6 RPG, and 1.6 BPG. He was one of the top players in the league until Gerald Wallace injured him. He ended his career with a well-deserved championship with the 2011 Dallas Mavericks. 8. He peaked in 2007 when he averaged 26.7 PPG on 46.5% shooting. He was a menace on the defensive side of the ball as well, never shying away from a tough matchup or assignments. Top 5 most underrated NBA players so far this season: PG - Malcolm Brogdon, Indiana Pacers. Ilgauskas wasnt the strongest in the post but he made up for it with a beautiful 6to 8-foot jumper that he had a beautiful touch on and was nearly automatic. That season he averaged 16.2 PPG and it was clear that the Pistons had their championship point guard. Still, with his peak year coinciding with his healthiesthe appeared in 78 gameshe led the Utah Jazz in total points, points per game, total rebounds, rebounds per game, blocks, blocks per game, steals, steals per game, free throws made, free throws attempted, three pointers made, and three-pointers attempted. Latrell Sprewell was a great player. Here's a ranking of the NBA's top teammate duos throughout league history. But the sheer fact that Clipper Contenderswas uttered during the 2005-06 playoffs firmly earns Elton a spot on this list. He was the first NBA player to bring in the big balls dance celebration, injuring his groin, The 12 Most Underrated NBA Players of the 2010s, This Millennial Transformed One Rental Property Into A Multi-Million Dollar Empire, 10 Entrepreneurs Share Their Best Beauty Business Tips And Secrets. 10. Like many on this list, the 2003-04 season was the best of Rons career. James Lofton is one of many cases of players being in the Hall of Fame and nevertheless being vastly underrated when compared with others who played the position. Were discussing the most underrated NBA players of the 2000s. The most underrated small forwards of the 2018-19 NBA season He had three All-NBA team selections, two thirds, and a second cap off his individual awards. Ilgauskas wasnt the strongest in the post but he made up for it with a beautiful 6to 8-foot jumper that he had a beautiful touch on and was nearly automatic. Ilgauskas struggled with injury the first few seasons of his career, missing his rookie season and 4th season with foot issues. His true moment in the spotlight happened near the tail end of his career. By the time his 4th season in 2004 came around, Redd was an All-Star and a consistent and efficient 20.0 PPG scorer. (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) Jamison would then form part of a consistent team with the Wizards, making 2 All-Star Teams during his tenure there and solidifying himself as one of the best power forwards in the NBA during his time. Career highlights and awards * NBA champion (2011) * NBA Finals MVP (2011) * NBA Most Valuable Player (2007) * 14 NBA All-Star (2002-2012, 2014, 2015, 2019) * 4 All-NBA First Team (2005-2007, 2009) * 5 All-NBA Second Team (2002, 2003, 2008, 2010, 2011) . As of early May, James and . Peja Stojakovic is one of the better perimeter scorers of the 2000s decade. During his 3rd season in the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miller led the NBA in assists with 10.9 APG to go with 16.5 PPG and 1.6 SPG. James Harden is the only player in NBA history with 21-game . He was selected only behind guards Kobe Bryant and Jason Kidd, which is the greatest single accomplishment in his career. He made the All-Star game and was selected to the All NBA-Third Team. He was a nightmare for defenders to stop and an even bigger one to try and score on in the paint. The Most Underrated NBA Player of the Early 2000s, Your email address will not be published. He led the league in steals in 2004 with 2.4 SPG. When coming into the league, there were no expectations for Michael Redd having been the 43rd pick of the 2000 NBA Draft. He peaked in 2007 when he averaged 26.7 PPG on 46.5% shooting. Drafted with the No. At his peak, he had an argument for the best big man in basketball at a time when Tim Duncan and Shaq were still in the league. 6,418 votes. 5y. Billups name never comes up in Top 20 conversations as far as point guards go, let alone Top 10 lists. Required fields are marked *. Actor | Like Mike. Roy attempted a comeback in 2013 but lasted just 5 games before calling it quits for good. Honestly, call him the Russian Lebron James. Even Basketball-Reference.com doesnt give the man a prayer. The draw of Finley was his consistency and availability. During the 2000s, at various times, he was up against the likes of 15 time all-star Tim Duncan, 15 time all-star Kevin Garnett, 14 time all-star Dirk Nowitzki, 10 time all-star Carmelo Anthony, 6 time all-star Pau Gasol, 6 time all-star Amar'e Stoudemire (yes, he got the nod as a forward), 5 time all-star Chris Webber. The NBA's 2020-21 All-Underrated Team - HoopsHype Underrated? 4. With only one more high-scoring season under his belt, 22.7 points per game, Redd would suffer a torn ACL and MCL injury that would significantly impact the rest of his career. Ronald Koeman of the Netherlands lines up before the UEFA Euro 88 Group 2 match between England and the Netherlands at the Rheinstadion on June 15, 1988 in Dsseldorf, West Germany. And when you peak to the point, you can be compared to the greatest power forward of all time. The assessment was based on how players performed during this decade and this decade ONLY (2000-2009). Elton averaged 30-10-4 with 3 blocks per game that series. In fact, he was voted 4th overall in the 2003-04 MVP race, beating out the aforementioned shooting guard on the Lakers. During his time in the NBA, Rasheed Wallace received a bad reputation as its resident bad boy. The Top 10 Most Underrated Football Players of All Time Thats right; were talking top player in the league status. Glen Rice was a three-time All-Star and won an NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2000. . By his fourth season with the Bucks, Allen was gone and Redd was a starter. Oh, and Google his insane back tattoo. Here are the 10 most underrated NBA players of the entire 2000s. That should be considered common sense considering NBA players peak from 25-30 years old. During his time in the NBA, Rasheed Wallace received a bad reputation as its resident bad boy. The 2000s was an awe-inspiring time to grow up as an NBA fan and witness these real-life superheroes hit the court every single night. By signing up, you agree to the our terms and our Privacy Policy agreement. He also made the All-Star Team and the All-NBA Third Team after a strong season with the Milwaukee Bucks. The top 10 players in the NBA according to ISH posters in August of 2000; Results 1 to 1 of 1 Thread: The top 10 players in the NBA according to ISH posters in August of 2000. Here are the 10 most underrated stars during the 2000s. Maggette had his best seasons during the 2004, 2005, and 2008 seasons. Who's the most UNDERRATED player of all time? : r/nbadiscussion - reddit For the first few seasons of his NBA career, Billups bounced around until he found a home with the Detroit Pistons in 2003. 19. Designed by profootballspace. Davis began his career as a member of the Charlotte Hornets. Drafted with the No. Miller had solid shooting numbers for a big man at that time, finishing with career averages of 80.4% from the line and 48.0% from the field. He is incredibly well known; hes played beside Kobe on the Championship Lakers, delivered us with one of the best post-championship press conferences ever, and been a member of the infamous Malice and the Palace. Last time I did this series, 2 years ago, I had him as the most underrated SF in the league. Jabbar was from the very beginning of his career being named the 1969-1970 rookie year, Abdul-Jabbar was a 5x MVP, 9x All-Star, 9x All-NBA, and 8x All-Defensive selection in the 1970s with the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers; moreover, he averaged 28+ points, 14+ rebounds, and 5+ assists per game and led the Bucks to their first NBA title, winning Finals MVP in . You can reach him via email:aaroncmansfield@gmail.com. Right off the bat, you can tell Rashard Lewis is highly underrated simply by his lack of accolades to his name. 50 Most Underrated NBA Players in History - Bleacher Report Zum ndern Ihrer Datenschutzeinstellung, z.B. Agent 0 going into L.A. and dropping 60 on the Lakers. Career Stats: 12.5 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 6.5 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.2 BPG. The following season it came to fruition as Billups not only led the Pistons to a title but won Finals MVP in the process. Here were some of . ESPN.com - Page2 - The List: Underrated teams He would have a few more All-Star seasons with Indiana but after the 2004 brawl in Detroit, the damage had been done to his stance within the league. Even with Minnesota, Cassell also owns a space in a potential worst trade of all time discussion, being moved, along with a first-round pick, from Minnesota in 2005 to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Marko Jaric and Lionel Chalmers. Most Underrated NBA Players (Historically) | Page 3 | More Sports Redd blossomed as a scorer in his 4th season, averaging 21.7 PPG on 35.0% shooting from three. Andrei Kirilenko was a prototype of what the modern-day NBA landscape now values above all else; versatility. That needs to begin to change after you read this piece. In the Finals against the Lakers, Billups averaged 21.0 PPG, 5.2 APG, and 3.2 RPG in the 5-game series to win the championship. 3. Landers mens soccer closes out the season with a penalty-kick loss to Florida Tech. 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He was the baby Bryant from across the LA freeway. www.basketball-timemachine.com. 10 James Lofton. Madden 23 ratings: Underrated players including Deebo Samuel - For The Win We dont even have to look at career averages or anything. Career Stats: 13.2 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 1.4 APG, 0.4 SPG, 1.7 BPG, Career Achievements: 1x Most Improved Player, 6x All-Star, 3x All-NBA Team Selection. Championships: 0. Neither made an impact, with Lionel Chalmers never playing another NBA game. Sacramento picked Pedrag Stojakovi at the 1996 NBA rookie draft while still playing in Greece. 1 of 25. O'Neal had a strong inside scoring game, was very active on the offensive boards, and was a capable shot-blocker. And Pascal Siakam continues to have one of the league's more underrated individual campaigns (perhaps because Toronto had . Davis can be credited with sparking the We Believe Warriors to an upset win over the No. Today, we honor the stars whose legacies have become underappreciated as time has gone on and we get further and further away from their playing days. Answer (1 of 3): Dirk Nowitzki. Elton Brand was a special big man on offense and on the boards, and he was one of the most underappreciated players during his time. It is borderline insanity that Miller was never even honored with an All-Star selection and for that, he is the 3rd most underrated player of the 200s decade. One year later with the Kings, Miller would have a career year averaging 14.1 PPG and 10.3 RPG while making his second straight All-Star Team. He would lead the league in steals once more in 2007 with the Warriors with 2.1 SPG. Press Esc to cancel. Even in his later years when his scoring dropped, there was little drop-off in Kidd's assist or steal numbers. Creighton's the favorite, Jay Wright's no longer at Nova, and three more huge coaching changes set up a competitive chase in the Big East As we entered the 2000s, NBA fans were left with the question of who was going to. The problem with most underrated NBA lists is too many of the players are, well, overrated. NBA: The 23 most underrated players from the 90s to present day With talk of which NBA players are the most underrated right making the rounds on social media this week, we thought it would be a good time to come up with our own All-Underrated Team for the . Fat Lever (#14) was Russell Westbrook before Westbrook. NBA on Twitter: "Jarrett Allen. Look out. https://t.co/1pomQZMAZK Here are the 10 most underrated NBA players of the entire 2000s. 12. He was so good that Pacers fans couldrealistically argue that he was the best big man in the league. As the all-time and single-season leader in technical fouls, how could he not? During his All-Star seasons with Portland, Wallace was a double-digit scorer and rebounder while being a force to be reckoned with on defense. Scottie Pippen is #15 on this list and would have been much higher a decade ago, but recent lists have been very kind to Pippen and have listed the versatile defensive small forward in the top twenty of all-time (which we believe is way too high for a player with his numbers).. 1. College basketball rankings: Most underrated and overrated teams in 32786 posts. The Top 10 Most Underrated NBA Players Of The 2000s He's got some recognition since then, but he still isn't as respected as he should. He would become an All-Star once more in 2005 averaging 16.9 PPG, 8.6 RPG, and 2.1 BPG. The most underrated scene was ___. The iPad clip I would like to hand Tracy McGrady was born on May 24, 1979 in Bartow, Florida, USA. Elton Brand led the way with 24-10 as the best player on a championship contender, the 2005-06 Clippers. Again, ONeal might be remembered more for his last season with Golden State, just before the team ascended into the perennial dynasty. Big Shot. The 2000s were a period in the NBA that featured the rise of some of the greatest players to ever play the game, including LeBron James , Kobe Bryant , Dwyane Wade , Kevin Garnett , Tim Duncan and . 20. Miller would go on to play 5 more seasons with Sacramento. In fact, Kirilenko was born in Izhevsk, where the weapon was first manufactured. Michael Jordan and Karl Malone greet each other before Game 1 of the NBA Finals on June 1, 1997, at the United Center. With his ability to both score and pass the ball, Miller was must-watch television whenever he was in town. Usually millions of dollars. Finally, as with fellow Pacer Ron Artest, ONeal was heavily involved in the Malice at the Palace punishments and suspensions, so the NBA isnt jumping at the opportunity to push Jermaine into the mainstream hivemind. For his career, Redd shot 38.0% from three and 44.7% overall. Mookie Blaylock. Davis recorded 3 different seasons with at least 20.0 PPG and 2.0 SPG as one of the more dynamic point guards in basketball. People are bound to take notice of him soon after his impressive season with the Raptors. He was a scorer, plain and simple. He averaged 16.8 PPG, 4.4 RPG, and 4.0 APG on 45.6% shooting in just 57 games. Poll of the Day: Who is the NBA's most underrated player since 2000 At his peak, he had an argument for the best big man in basketball at a time when Tim Duncan and Shaq were still in the league. Think about Dennis Johnson of the 1980sthe dude was a five-time All-Star and a Finals MVP. During his time with the New Orleans Hornets for 3 seasons, he averaged 20.2 PPG, 8.1 APG, and 2.0 SPG. Roy attempted a comeback in 2013 but lasted just 5 games before calling it quits for good. And . I will say it here and now. He had a sweet jumper and smooth release that he could knock down from anywhere in front of half-court. Wallace helped to revolutionize the power forward position forever with his ability to spread the floor and shoot the ball He could play any role that a team needed him to. He was an entertaining player, scorer, and consistent all-star-level talent in the 90s. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); My name is Hayden, and I'm a digital marketing consultant. Redd shot a career 38.0% from three and his 6 straight years of scoring prowess rank him 3rd on this list. He would average a double-double over the next 4 seasons, and by his third season, he was a member of the Los Angeles Clippers. He found the end zone in three different decades. Today, we honor the stars whose legacies have become underappreciated as time has gone on and we get further and further away from their playing days. This is the plight of DeMar DeRozanhes criminally underrated, and probably will be for his entire career. Miller also had an All-Star season with the Pacers in 2003 where he averaged 13.1 PPG and 8.3 RPG. For some reason, ONeal was vilified relentlessly for his role in the brawl and his reputation has taken years to recover. During his early days in Seattle, Lewis took a bit to develop into the shooter and scorer he went down as. Lewis was one of the NBAs top shooters for years with 8 seasons ranked in the Top 20 for 3-pointers made. As a member of the Indiana Pacers, O'Neal was a very gifted two-way big man. 50 Most Underrated NBA Players of All Time | Stadium Talk He won the Rookie of the Year award with the least games played in history to win the award. Defensively he was excellent, making an NBA All-Defensive Team three times. Here are the teams, odds and spread for Super Bowl 57 matchup, Super Bowl 2023 predictions and picks for each round of the NFL playoffs. With his accurate 3-point shot and ability to pass the ball effectively, Stojakovidc would be a nightmare for defenses in todays game. Redd was consistently criticized for his lack of a complete game but his scoring was by far the best part of his game. Tracy McGrady. How many other players in NBA history have an argument for being both the best paint scorer and overall defender at the same time? The Top 10 Most Underrated NBA Players Of The 2000s Davis was an explosive point guard who was a blur on the floor in open space. The Most Underrated NBA Player of the Early 2000s. He was also one of the better offensive rebounders in basketball and led the league in that stat in the 2004-05 season with 299 offensive rebounds. Our editorial content is not influenced by any commissions we receive. Thats why hes the first name on this list. He was named an NBA All-Star in 2004 after averaging 21.7 points and a career-best 5.0 rebounds a game. Billups name never comes up in Top 20 conversations as far as point guards go, let alone Top 10 lists. Players like Russell Westbrook, John Wall, and Kyle Kuzma each get the overrated label due to playoff failures, huge contracts, or just being talked up more than their games can back up. His only postseason trip was as a role player averaging 12-5 on the 2005-06 Sacramento Kings, who would lose in the first round to San Antonio. . Ilgauskas struggled with injury the first few seasons of his career, missing his rookie season and 4th season with foot issues. He was one of many roleplayers that was able to fit seamlessly into talented teams throughout his career. For the first few seasons of his NBA career, Billups bounced around until he found a home with the Detroit Pistons in 2003. The Most-Underrated NBA Players of All-Time. Roy was a special talent on offense confirmed by some of the greats such as Tracy McGrady and Kobe Bryant. The 2000s were filled with incredible defenders, lights-out shooters, amazing ball handlers, solid secondary stars, and bench players who were elite at their jobs. Lewis retired with the Miami Heat in 2014, one year after adding an NBA championship to his already impressive resume. Elton Brand is the most underrated star of the 2000s because he managed to have 2 All-Star Seasons after being drafted No.1 in the 1999 Draft. The NBA has done an unfortunately great job of sweeping Jermaine ONeals career under the rug after his role in the infamous Malice At The Palace. Roy would be named an All-Star the following 3 seasons and averaged 21.1 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 5.2 APG, and 1.1 SPG over that time. From there, he developed his offensive game and defensively got more aggressive. That could not be further from the truth as Ilgauskas was a solid two-way big man who helped LeBron James adapt to the NBA. His best season came in 2003-04, Peja averaged a career-high 24.2 PPG on 48.0% shooting overall and 43.3% from three. Legends of the NBA: 25 Best Players of the 2000s The Most Overrated NBA Players Today - Ranker These are the most overrated players in NBA history. Bibby's best season came in 2006 where he averaged 21.1 PPG and 5.4 APG for the Kings squad that finished with a 44-38 record. We'll focus primarily on his most impactful seasons, from 2001-2004. 18 pick in the 2020 draft, there were high hopes for Richardson's career. During his time with the New Orleans Hornets for 3 seasons, he averaged 20.2 PPG, 8.1 APG, and 2.0 SPG. Despite sharing the court with Ray Allen early on, Redd carved his own path and should be revered for his unbelievable scoring at his peak. Miller was as good as it gets running an NBA offense and he was one heck of a playmaker. He would lead the league in steals once more in 2007 with the Warriors with 2.1 SPG. At his peak, he became one of the most prolific scorers in the league and ignited the spirit of the game back in the City Of Milwaukee. But for now, Lillard looks like the young PG with the most potential to grow into the best point guard of his era. Andre Miller was never an MVP candidate or even an All-Star but he was quietly one of the better point guards during the 2000s. Roy was destined to be a star from his first season in the NBA. For those of us that remember ONeal at his peak, we remember an undersized two-way beast for the Indiana Pacers who helped them nearly capture a championship in his heyday. Six seasons into his career in 2005, Lewis earned his first All-Star selection and first 20.0 PPG season. Career Stats: 16.1 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 7.2 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.4 BPG, Career Achievements: 2x All-Star, 1x All-NBA Team Selection. Ranking NBA's Best Point Guards of the 2000s - nba.com He tore the ACL and MCL in his left knee after playing just 33 games. He was also a big reason the Cavaliers were able to make the 2007 NBA Finals, being LeBron James favorite option on offense. Wevv News Director, Judge Mark A Speiser, Articles M